Theodore h



.(No Model.) I T-. H.-DIBB LE. Sheet Metal Seam.

No. 240,895. 4 Pa t eht ed may 3,1881.

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f/Z'Zrzeaa'e s [fire/Zion N PETERS, FnomLilhcgrapher. Washington, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE H. DIBBLE, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE DIBBLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SHEET-METAL SEAM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,895, dated May 3, 1881.

Application filed March 3, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE H. DIBBLE, of Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sheet Metal Seams of Wire-Cloth Traps, Gages, and other Wire- (Jloth Articles; which improvement is fully set forth and illustrated in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is to unite the edges of sheets of wire-cloth by means of a sheet-metal seam much simpler, heater, and cheaper than has heretofore been used, and capable of being much more quickly made and finished. V

To this end, therefore, the invention consists in doubling a thin strip of any suitable metal into a single fold and therein clamping the opposing edges of two sheets of wire-cloth and then folding back or reversely one of the sheets over one edge and upon one side of the metal strip, thus making a flat seam having the metal strip practically on but one side of the cloth, and leaving a smooth and practically continuous wire surface on the other side of the cloth.

In the strip-m etal seams heretofore made each edge of wire-cloth has been bound by a metal strip, and then the two strips have been soldered together to make a joint or completed seam. A double-folded strip of metal has also been employed, into which each edge of wire cloth has been clamped. In the former method double the quantity of metal strip is required, and in thelatter method half as much more than is required for this invention; and the seams in both said cases are more costly to make and not so smooth and neat in appearance when made, and consume more time in making than is required to complete the seam forming the subject of this invention.

in the accompanying drawings, the invention is illustrated as more particularly applied to the wire-cloth case or cage of a fly-trap;

structure.

but it is evident that said invention is equally well applicable to many other articles whereof wire-cloth forms an important part of their In the said drawings, Figure 1 illustrates, in elevation,.a case or cage conical in form,

(No model.)

and showing one sheet-metal seam in front, the rear seam being concealed from view by the front seam. Fig. 2 shows an enlarged or exaggerated section of the case illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on a horizontal plane, the exaggerations in thickness of material being made for the purpose of clearer illustration and more ready perception to the eye. Fig.3 illustrates a vertical section through Fig. 1, showing the interior of the case with the metal strip entirely outside of the wire-cloth interior. Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate the very simple method of making the seams and clamping the edges of the wire-cloth within the fold of metal strip hereinafter more particularly described.

In the said figures, A indicates the case as a whole; a, the sheet-metal strip forming the seam; b, the edgeof one sheet clamped within the fold of said strip, and c c the double fold of the other wire-cloth sheet, the case being composed, as shown in the drawings, of but two sheets of wire-cloth. w,

Figs. at and 5 illustrate one very great advantage of this mode of seam construction when applied to cylindrical or conical cases. The sheets of wire-cloth, being cut flat to a templet, are placed together as two flat surfaces. The simple fold of metal strip is then clamped over their edges by pressure Sllflicient to give thenccessary set to the metal when the parallelogram or trapezoid (as the case may be) is entered upon a former or mandrel, and by simple pressure or blows from a wooden mallet has its sides expanded,thereby giving it a cylindrical or conical form, and at the same time folding one edge of each sheet over one edge and upon the side of each metal strip, leaving the other edge of each sheet simply clamped in the fold of the metal strip, as above described, and clearly illustrated in section in Fig. 2.

It is evident that this seam may be applied to joining sheets of 'wire-cloth for use for flat surfaces as well as for curved surfaces, the metal seams serving to mark off or divide the sheets into neatlooking panels, and at the same time bracing the woven-wire fabric in a substantial manner,in Whatever form the same may be turned or shaped.

This invention thus affords a ready andcheap means of utilizing and making inerchantable large quantities of wire-cloth scrap otherwise incapable of being converted to remunerative marketable use.

As of my invention I claim-P The method of uniting contiguous edges of sheets of Wire-cloth, consisting of clamping said edges Within a simple fold of a strip of thin metal and folding one sheet over and 10 upon one edge and one side of said strip,

whereby a neat and smooth seam is made, the sheets securely braced, and the entire strip of metal placed practically on the outer side or on but one side of said sheets, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

THEODORE H. DIBBLE.

\Vitnesses:

O. E.,TULLER, THos. BAGKES. 

